Ten people killed in Eldoret-Webuye road crash

A wreckage of a matatu that was involved in an accident with a bus in Athi River, along Nairobi-Mombasa highway. Several lives have been lost in road accidents due to overspeeding or overtaking. (Photo:File/Standard)

Ten people died and several others were injured in a grisly road accident at Kipkaren town in Kakamega County.

The 11am accident involved a 14-seater matatu, which was heading to Eldoret from Kakamega and a trailer headed towards the Malaba border.

Lugari OCPD Bernard Macharia said seven people died on the spot while the other four died while undergoing treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

“A Kabras Sacco matatu was overtaking a trailer along Eldoret-Webuye road at Kipkaren Trading Centre before it lost control and collided head-on at Kipkaren,” said Mr Macharia

The Matatu driver was among those who died while the driver of the lorry and his turn-boy escaped with minor injuries. The matatu had 11 passengers at the time.

Western police traffic boss Evans Getembe, who visited the scene, cited speeding and failure to observe traffic rules as some of the reasons accidents along the Eldoret-Webuye highway are increasing.

Black spot

“The spot where this accident happened, close to Kipkaren River Bridge, is a black spot. There are signs warning drivers to slow down while approaching market centres but few drivers take their time to observe them,” Mr Getembe said.

“This particular driver was at high speed and it could be the reason this accident happened,” he added.

Getembe cautioned those driving along the Nairobi-Eldoret-Bungoma highway to avoid speeding to avert further loss of lives.

“It is sad that we are losing lives through recklessness driving. Drivers should be cautious while on the highway and more so on the Eldoret-Webuye road, which has many sharp bends,” he said.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya blamed reckless driving for the crash since the scene has been identified as a black spot.

“We condole the families that lost their loved ones in the accident. The county will offer assistance to the bereaved families,” Oparanya said.